Storm kept viewers glued to FOX10

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - During life threatening events like Christmas Day's tornado, seconds count. Here at FOX10 NEWS, we were getting live real-time information from the National Weather Service and passing it on as fast as it came in. It seems many folks were listening and heeded the call to take cover.

GLUED TO THE NEWS

"The news program was on, Channel 10," Prichard tornado survivor Iris Houston said, "That's what I watch, and you all was telling, 'Where you're at take cover. Take cover right now! Take cover!' That's all I heard when I heard take cover; that's when it hit here."

When seconds count there's only time to act not to think. Walking through the destruction on Chin Street, Meteorologist Matt Barrentine spoke to Michelle Dickerson and Priscilla Brazeal. They had two dozen family and friends visiting for Christmas, but they still had a severe weather plan and as they watched the news they put it in motion.

"It helped us with the plan because we did hear the warnings on the tv we were listening to the news," Dickerson said

All 25 people in the house stayed safe, as the twister tore through next door. They say the warnings were a life saver.

"You wouldn't have been able to move fast enough,"Dickerson continued. "It happened in such a short period of time."

TORNADO CAUGHT LIVE... ON-AIR

Those moments before a tornado are crucial. Moving at speeds of fifty miles per hour. A twister like the one on Christmas day covers nearly a mile a minute. With 2012s speed of information we were able to keep just ahead of this storm. The National Weather Service in Mobile kept the Fox10 News Meteorologists informed with real-time observations. And then there was the live video, that picture was surely more valuable than words.  

"It was on the news. I was watching the news," Arthur Griffen told meteorologist Matt Barrentine. "And just like you said. WHUHHUHU! Man I'm telling you."
 
"Y'all put it right there." "Y'all do a good job."